Journalists write "knowingly" on the situation in Israel without ever living here; without first hand knowledge of what it means to live in this tiny country in the midst of a rather unfriendly neighbourhood.
I write without vengeance, without hatred, just what I experience,the view from my veranda and the thoughts in my head.
My archive is available at www.lingomatics.com/Shabbatshalom/index.html

About Me

I am a freelance journalist living in Jerusalem. I strive to tell the truth as it is never seen in the media - the life of one Israeli trying to get along with everyone but not willing to deny her past nor her identity.

Friday, 28 October 2016

It is
38 years since the breathtaking moment when Anwar Sadat stepped off the
aeroplane at Ben Gurion Airport to meet with Menachem Begin. It was a
pivotal moment in Israel's existence and in Egypt's. Two men, two fighters, two
leaders who understood that they could not go on fighting; Anwar Sadat recognised
that the constant war was ensuring his country and his people could not raise
their heads from poverty and Menachem Begin, the former panther was ready to
meet anyone who wanted peace. Menachem Begins words "No more war, no more
bloodshed. Peace unto you. Shalom, Salaam, forever" heralded a genuine
peace with the largest and most dangerous enemy of the time. It faded on the
day that Sadat was assassinated but apart from the cold peace has basically
been maintained and General Al Sisi is fighting alongside us to beat the terror
of ISIS.

The
Nobel Prize Ceremony
for the two warriors for peace brought forth these worlds from the Nobel
Director

"The award of the Prize to the President
of Egypt, Anwar al-Sadat, and the Prime Minister of Israel, Menachem Begin, is
moreover historical in the wider sense, in that we only know of one previous
peace agreement between Egypt and Israel. This, as Israeli scholars have
revealed, took place some 3,000 years ago; it was the peace concluded between
King David's son, wise King Solomon, and the Egyptian Pharaoh."

Perhaps
the fools of UNESCO should read those words since they clearly do not believe
in the words of the Bible.

There
are occasional moments of sweet revenge when one has mean thoughts about those
who use Israel as their expression of their racist leanings. It happened twice
this week. The papers were plastered with the financial problems of Roger
Waters – him of Pink Floyd? The one who "had no education" oh you
remember, Pink Floyd's The Wall? Anyway his entire career for the last several
years is based on promoting the BDS movement which has, thank Heaven, resulted
in his financial ruin! Oh gosh that felt good!

The
second, even more odious person is Jenny Tonge. She was a member of the Liberal
Democrats but always on the fringe and very openly racist against Israel. The
LibDems shoved her upwards into the House of Lords thinking it would shut her
up, but no, she continued even with the title of Baroness Tonge. This week she
really went too far, ensuring an invited audience in a meeting room in the
House she spat venom on Israel in a manner unbecoming – and was thrown out of
the Liberal Democratic Party – even though she tried to convince the media that
she had resigned. Ah such a sweet moment.

Neither
of these foul racists will disappear but their platform became very, very
small.

Israel's
much maligned Defence Minister, Avigdor Liberman, gave an interview to
the Palestinian newspaper Al Quds this week. His plan of the exchange of land
between the PA and Israel to accommodate the relevant peoples; increase of
supplies to Gaza; determination to initiate more direct negotiations between
the military came as a surprise to the West but the Arabs believe in him. He
has emerged as a pragmatist who they trust. I am not surprised. We have heard
him speak at many functions and international occasions and his words are not
far right as the media likes to portray him, he simply does not speak with
forked tongue. This article explains it all. http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2016/10/israel-why-minister-liberman-offered-hamas-a-sea-port.html

His
Holiness Pope Francis
is a rare Christian leader – indeed a rare leader. After a short meeting with Ayoub
Kara, Druze Deputy Minister in the
Knesset, His Holiness declared that G-d had promised the land of Israel to the
Jews. It may seem obvious to us, indeed to anyone who reads the Bible, but yet
again this fine man and exceptional leader has spoken out about the fact that
to deny the right of Jews to be in this land is pure racism. Minister kara
believes it was a clear statement to UNESCO.

This
week has been difficult. I think I told you that the Yuri Shtern Holistic
Center had been burgled and when the ******s tore the safe from the wall
they took most of the ticket money raised for a performance of the Batsheva
Dance Company on November 1st. I have spent most of the week writing
to friends and companies to try to recoup the funds lost because this unique
organisation provides holistic care, touch therapies, psychology and nso much
more to Cancer Patients and their families, in Shaare Zedek Hospital and in the
humble clinic. If you feel able to give something toward their loss of funds
please, please http://www.israelgives.org/amuta/580475085
Just say Sheila sent you!!! By the way, thank you dear Sari Singer. Thank you
for your prompt action.

Last
night Zvi and I went to a truly magnificent concert at the Jerusalem Theatre. Two
choirs, the Jerusalem Oratorio and Laudamus Te Stuttgart together with the
Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra. We received an invitation from Dassy and Yair
Stern (Yair the son of Avrham Yair Stern of the Irgun) is the CEO of the
Symphony. He told us the Mendlessohn programme was outstanding and he was
right!!!

Last
Shabbat we had a large number of friends to sit in our Succah. A diverse group,
I love watching new interactions. Since I was still sick and on anti-biotics
each of the guests brought something toward the meal; salads and desserts so
that I really didn't have to work hard. We were 17 people and the weather was
absolutely delightful

I have
to run because I am collecting the children from school to take them home to
the incredible aromas of freshly baked Challot and Rachel's full range of
delicious food. I have little cooking to do today except a huge pot of pea
soup! The pea soup is in honour of Gili's graduation from her Chumash class in
school. Gili loves pea soup!!! We are going to Leor and Shiri tonight and Gili
is their beautiful middle daughter, so I can hardly wait for her delighted
smile when she sees what soup Safta Sheila made!!!

Tomorrow
our beautiful friend Dr Kimball Taylor is coming to stay for 5 days, all the
way from Cardston, Alberta in Canada. Kim is officially here for the Jewish
Agency Board meetings, but really it is because he cannot be away from
Jerusalem for long……. And he wants to see us! As an early riser he will thrill
to the sunrise over Jerusalem that I see every morning; the fiery red skies in
contrast to the aurora borealis greens that he has at home. I love sharing the
view from our veranda.

Stanley,
yesterday I planted all my spring bulbs! Zvi schlepped the soil upstairs and I
did the creative part!!!!

Oh I
forgot to tell you…… yesterday it rained; at least in Jerusalem we had high
winds and it kinda spat a bit, in Eilat they are flooded! Over 100 mms of rain
in one evening!!!!

My
favourite service in Judaism is the Havdalah – the service, at home, that
separates between the Holy Shabbat and the humdrum life of the week. We
reawaken all our senses, with a candle for sight and warmth on the skin, the
wine to taste, fragrant herbs and spices to awaken the sense of smell and the
sound of beautiful prayer of thanks to hear. This is a gorgeous version of
Havdalah with the Chief Chazan (Cantor) of the IDF Shai Abrahamson….. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YdKVK2ryBUQ

Remember
that for every Roger Waters there are 100 great stars who can't wait to perform
in Israel. Beyonce is next month, Air Supply too, The stranglers, Ricky Martin,
Dire Straits and a whole slew were here last month……… as Robert DeNiro would
say Forgetabahtit!

I know
I have given you "Brothers in Arms" written by Mark Knopfler for the
IDF, but I love it and cry each time! Anyway I was in the UK for the Dire
Straits concerts in Israel!!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTXiBGLloV4

OK I
just found this video by Yaacov Schwekey and I couldn't resist giving it to
you. "We Are a Miracle" so that every time you get depressed by the ignoramuses'
who yet again want us gone from the face of the earth - you can play this song. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cmyKFLQDHns

Shabbat
Shalom dear friends. Remember, it is a New Year, a new start, the chance to
make everyone around you feel good and…………….. ensure that you speak out, and if
necessary, shout out about injustices.

Zvi and
I will speaking out in Southern Florida for the last week of January and the
first two weeks of February. If you want us to speak at your synagogue or
fundraiser – just tell me and I will check it out.

Thursday, 20 October 2016

Shabbat
Shalom dear friends. Shabbat Shalom, Moadim le simcha, Chag Sameach, Holy
Tabernacles.
Succot is on her way out and Simchat Torah is getting nearer. Our Succah this
year is spectacular, I decided to have curtains on the side which faces the
view so that we can hold them back and see the spectacular view while honouring
the tradition of sitting in our Succah.

It
is fascinating as to why we spend a week in the Succah….. why would a
people with perfectly good houses suddenly build a relatively flimsy extension
and eat and even sleep in it? There are many explanations from harvest time,
remembering our 40 years in the desert, gratitude for what we have, to
returning to nature…………. All of which seem fine but let's look deeper. Why did
we have to wander in the desert for 40 years? Look I know they didn't have WAZE
but 40 years? One explanation is that G-d wanted the generation of slavery to
die off and the generation of freedom to build the new land; another says it
was a punishment for their mistrust in Moses and the building of the Golden
Calf (and all the subsequent revelry and orgies) and the hope that after 40
years they would have learned to accept the social, moral and religious rules
of the 10 Commandments. Personally I think it is combination of them all.

Life in
this crazy world didn't stand still just because it is Succot! If only.

The
Russian fleet is currently passing through the English Channel, being carefully
watched and followed by the British Navy, on their way to Syria. It doesn't fill
me with hope, nor with dread; it deeply concerns me. It makes the choice of
American President even more important.

Watching
the debates make my heart sink. When will we hear policy? Who will set
forth a manifesto? Who will stop the personal insults and name calling first?
This is not a personal matter, they are not playing at school debates,
Americans have to choose someone who can face down the impending threat of
Russian intervention in an already inflammatory situation. My greatest fear is
that neither of the candidates can do it. Sorry Americans, but I want a
President who can lead the United States and thus lead the world. I don't want
to be Czechoslovakia any more.

UNESCO,
what is there to say?
Inanity that has become both irrelevant and highly dangerous. The denial of the Temple Mount's Jewish origins
insults Judaism and Christianity equally. Zvi, who has strong Mexican ties, was
very surprised at the Mexican vote in favour of the proposition since the
President said no and the Ambassador to UNESCO is a pro-Israel Jew. You will be
glad to know the vote was rescinded, the Ambassador is staying and all is well.
Irina Bokova, the Head of UNESCO spoke out in dismay at the ratification of
the proposition. As a result she received death threats! http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Politics-And-Diplomacy/Head-of-UNESCO-receives-death-threats-following-Jerusalem-resolutions-470332

As you
know, I am on the board of Impact-se, an organisation that set the
criteria for tolerance in education for UNESCO and provides data through
research to many governments http://www.impact-se.org/latest-news/
. If we can't educate the adults then at least we have to save the children.

Incidentally,
if they want to claim the Holy Bible isn't Jewish we can show them this video
of how the archaeological scientists have found a way to read the Ein Gedi
Scrolls – the earliest scrolls of the 5 Books of Moses https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GduCExxB0vw

Last
week I failed to report on the killing of two people by an Israeli Arab terrorist.
The incident, quite apart from our deep sadness at those who were killed, has
caused an uproar because the perpetrator was supposed to be in jail but begged
the court to give him an extra month before going into jail, to organise his
finances. On the day he was meant to report to the police he acted out his
Facebook threats. May the souls of his victims rest in peace. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4864512,00.html

A
major subject of discussion in Israel concerns the young soldier, Elor Azaria,
who after a terrorist had attacked his fellow soldiers and was neutralized,
still shot and killed him. His defence is that he thought the terrorist was
reaching for his belt, a dangerous situation, but the soldier, rather than
being tried in military court, is being very publicly tried in the civilian
court. The media refers to him as the shooting soldier and in effect his life
is paraded before the court and the cameras. Naftali Bennet has come out
suggesting he has suffered enough and this very public trial will cause other
young soldiers to be overly cautious in dangerous situations. Strangely enough,
although I am a pacifist by nature, I agree with him. http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Bennett-calls-for-pardoning-Hebron-shooter-469712

I found
this quote which fits the situation – although I still want our soldiers to
think before pulling the trigger, they don't always have the time.

Sometimes to protect the flock we have no
choice but to kill the wolves

Last night we were meant to go to one of the
most exciting evenings of the Jerusalem calendar - the International Christian Embassy in
Jerusalem's Israeli Spectacular. Thousands of Christians here for the
Tabernacles celebrations gather in the basketball arena and put on a phenomenal
show of support for Israel. Today there was a huge parade. I say we were meant
to go because we didn't! I have a rotten cough and couldn't gather the strength
to go out!! This gives you an idea of the excitement engendered https://vimeo.com/163663497 . Of course
our dear friend Canon Andrew White spoke at several sessions.

Talking
of Christians, Bethlehem, that city so important to Christianity, has become a
very difficult place to be Christian, indeed a tiny Christian minority. Our
friend Boutrus, a wonderful man, lives in Bethlehem with his wife and 5
children and crosses over to Jerusalem every day to find work. Boutrus
is a house painter and handyman, but he cannot make ends meet. He is in trouble,
along with most of Bethlehems Christians. The world seems to have lost its
moral compass.

In
10 days my favourite organisation, the Yuri Shtern Holistic Centre,
which cares for cancer patients and their families at Shaare Zedek Hospital, is
putting on a spectacular evening at the Jerusalem Theatre with a special performance
by the Bat Dor Ballet Company. If you are in Jerusalem come, I can tell you
where to get tickets. November 1st, 2016. It is an outstanding cause https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sbk511x4oYI

The family
came for first night Succot and all 17 of us squeezed into the succah! I was a
bit cleverer this time and put all the food out buffet style. It was much more
fun and much less work!!! As always Zvi performed the blessings beautifully and
somehow sitting in the succah as the full moon rose through the curtains it was
even more special. After 20 years the view still takes my breath away. It was
so much fun that on Shabbat we are again 17, 17 friends are coming for Shabbat
lunch. I love entertaining, enjoy others enjoying our view, love to make people
laugh, to let them know that they are always welcome. It is the way I grew up.
Mummy always kept one extra place setting on the sideboard, just in case
someone came unexpectedly she could quickly put the extra place setting without
a fuss.

For
those of short memory, it isn't so long since we were not allowed near our holy
sites. The sense of longing was intense and expressed by Naomi Shemer in a song
of yearning. The song won the Israel song contest and then miraculously the
yearning became reality over a war that lasted just 6 days – Har Habiyit b
yadenu – the Temple Mount is in our hands. Naomi Shemer added an additional verse
expressing our joy at finally reaching our cherished sites. Yerushalayim
Shel Zahav – even UNESCO can't take that away from us https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JH8gtdDA5x0

Zvi and
I wish you and yours a peaceful Shabbat and a joyous Simchat Torah…… My
childhood memories are of great joy and dancing in the synagogue in Cardiff and
the children being given sweeties (still a rarity in post war UK) and "Callers
Nibbits"!! It was a time we were allowed, even encouraged, to make noise!
If you still don't believe our sheer joy in the Torah, in the Bible, just watch
this amateur video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwSLwiX2WjM

With
love from Jerusalem, and remember, it doesn't matter what anyone says……… it is
ours!!

Friday, 14 October 2016

I hope that Yom Kippur passed easily, a day of
reflection and of true determination to do better this year. I looked for
synonyms for atonement but they all seem rather harsh, even penance is not
quite the same, perhaps because our all-encompassing determination to be a
better person, or a better people, softens the sense of punishment. Before
heading out for the synagogue I wrote "Tonight
is Kol Nidrei, heralding 25 hours of prayer, contemplation and atonement, a
time to rethink our lives and question our motives, as a people. We must
consider our loyalties, our words, to apologise is not to atone.......... to
atone is to change, to admit our faults and do better."

Have you read Parashat
Yona (The story of Jonah)? I mean really read it - the Torah reading for Yom Kippur.There are so many highly relevant aspects to this
particular story.G-d specifically asked Jonah to go to Nineveh
(Mosul today) because the bad guys were taking over the city. Jonah didn't want
to tackle the big city guys so he ran off to Tarshish on a boat. The historian
Josephus said that Cilicia in Asia Minor and itscapital
is Tarsus, is Tarshish, however Jonah fled his responsibilities to the but
ultimately after some time spent in the belly of a large fish (submarine?)
because his shipmates realised he was bringing them bad luck and stormy seas,
he decided he had better head of and take on the evil people of Nineveh.
So many Jonahs in the world today are abrogating their responsibilities and
heading for the easy route – and of course hurricanes, tsunamis and tornados
are rocking our boat daily. Indeed, one just hit the Caribbean, Florida and Georgia.
Message there somewhere?Seriously, read it. It sounds straight from CNN!!!

It
seems nothing in life is easy for Israel and no sooner had we finished praying
than the bombshell dropped – UNESCO. Yes I know that the UN is irrelevant but
the UNESCO decision that the Temple Mount is not Jewish is insanity!! To
deny the Jewish connection is of course to deny the Christian connection, after
all when Jesus went to the Temple Mount he did not visit Al Aqsa. To deny the
Temple Mount is to deny the entire Judeo-Christian belief system. Estonia,
Germany, Lithuania, Netherlands, USA and UK all voted against the motion, all
the other nations either voted for the motion or abstained. One person on
Facebook said "The difference between UNESCO and G-d is that G-d doesn't
believe He is UNESCO" Of course we are the stupid ones, you and me and our
free thinking countries. We continues to pay our dues and homage to that
ludicrous organisation called the UN that has Libya and Saudi Arabia on its
Human Rights Council. Time to change the world and stop our leaders acting like
Jonah, avoiding the evil that stems from Nineveh. In the words of King David, Psalms 83:4They say, “Come, let us wipe them out as a nation;let the name of Israel be remembered no more!”

Perhaps
one of the most disappointing aspects is that both Haiti and Nepal abstained.
Their gratitude is apparently tempered by their desire to stay in the good
books of the oil nations.

The
UN and the US Administration should prepare themselves for a massive
building boom in Israel! It began after sunset on Wednesday and reached a
peak today. Small huts with large palm fronds as roofing appeared on roofs,
in gardens, on verandas – indeed throughout the country. No need to get a
court order to pull them down though – they will only be in use for 8 days!!!
Yes folks, it is Succot, Tabernacles! Fancy wooden sided Succot; flimsy
fabric sides; some simple shanties; some just a string to form the separation
– all count, all legal, all decorated with surprising Christmas glitter and
Chinese manufactured hanging decorations!!! The weather is far too hot to
hang fruit so we buy our glitter balls and multi-coloured ornaments, trinkets
and sparkly chains and children paint pictures of fruits to hang on the
walls. This is one of two harvest festivals and so much more. The huts, or
Tabernacles, represent the 40 years of wandering in the desert; the Lulav and
Etrog, blessed each day, contain palm fronds, myrtle, willow and the rather
special fruit which is not a lemon (citrus medica or citron), translates as
the fruit of the beautiful tree. Men spend hours choosing the finest Etrog,
inspecting every millimeter for imperfections. Each Succah incorporates the
seven species -

For the L-rd your G‑d is bringing you
to a good land: ... A land of wheat, barley, grapes, figs and pomegranates; a
land of oil-yielding olives and [date] honey

If
"man is a tree of the fieldand
fruit is the tree's highest achievement, there are seven fruits that crown the
human and botanical harvest. These are the seven fruits and grains singled out
by the Torah as exemplars of the Holy Land's fertility: wheat, barley,
grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives and dates. The Succah is not only for the
family, the true purpose is to invite guests and for guests to come and sit in
the Succah. Of course, we will have many people visiting over Succot. The first
night we will be 20 people sitting down to dinner, all family or in-law family
then over the week many friends will visit. Traditional foods tend to
incorporate fruits, but include memula'im, or stuffed vegetables, where one
takes every imaginable autumnal vegetable and fill them with rice, meat, herbs
and then slowly bake it for hours in a lemony, herb juice. Fruit cakes,
strudels, baked apples, almonds and raisins……….. actually, almonds and raisins
are traditional celebratory fare – there is even a Yiddish lullaby that my
Mummy used to sing to me called Rozhinkes Mit Mandlen https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YdKkPupLiYM

Next
week we will attend the special Gala Israel evening at the new Pais
Arena to celebrate Tabernacles. The evening, indeed the entire Tabernacles
pilgrimage and events, is organised by the International Christian Embassy
in Jerusalem under the watchful eye of its Director, the lovely Juergen
Buhler. The Arena will be full to capacity as tens of thousands of Christians
come to show their support of Israel, of Jerusalem and of their own faith. We
are very honoured to be among the invitees, it amazes me each year that so many
Christians love us – perhaps we are too used to being denigrated to notice the
love that comes our way.

The
week will end with Simchat Torah – indeed the story told in the Torah will
end to begin again. Perhaps the UNESCO people should read it – or even part of
it – to see who started what and where. The mere suggestion that the Temple
Mount is not Jewish is an omen of what the world will become if we don't stand
up and shout.

The
people of Israel extend our love and consolations to the people of Thailand on the death of
their King. Bhumibol Adulyadej,
known as King Bhumibol the Great, was the ninth monarch of Thailand from the
Chakri Dynasty as Rama IX was born in Cambridge Massachusetts in 1927
and served as a gentle and levelling influence on his people. While in Bangkok
we saw the total reverence in which he was held. May his soul rest in peace.

Almost
Shabbat again,
the Chagim leave me very confused because the days seem to roll into one, Rosh
Hashana, Yom Kippur, Succot, Shmini Atzeret, Simchat Torah………… and barely time
to shop and cook in between!!! Nothing and no-one will ruin the sense of
festivity in the air in Israel – most certainly not the United Nations!!! We
don't need UNESCO to tell us what is and isn't ours – we read about it
every Shabbat and every Festival!

Who'd
a thought it? Bob Dylan, aka Robert Allen Zimmerman – Shabtai Zisel ben
Avraham is a Nobel Laureate! Such a brilliant choice. A brave one too. – Dylan summed
up the story of Israel, not only in Neighbourhood Bully https://vimeo.com/101836593 (Lyrics
below) but also in Blowin in the Wind. A
genius of literature, of poetry, he captured our plight. https://youtu.be/vWwgrjjIMXA

I
owe you one more song,
perhaps one that is joyful, to match our current festivals. This is for those
who think Tel Aviv is just a place of beaches and restaurants. Simchat Torah –
the Joy of the Torah, in Rabin Square https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JO4qWWR6jyM

In case
you are surprised – no I am not going to talk about the American elections. I
think that both the campaigns have fallen deep into mud-slinging rather than
policy statements and don't want to be involved. Can I just say, however, that
in 1st Class – the armrests don't go up!

Today I
am going to sit on our veranda, perhaps Zvi will come too before he heads off
to his Parliament, no longer in the petrol station now it is held in the
University Coffee Shop. I sit, often in the evening, to see the sun set on this
fabulous, vibrant and special city. We have a hammock, what Americans call a
garden swing, and I sit and slowly swing to and fro, taking in the sheer
magnificence of what this tiny country has achieved in less than 70 years. From
barren, uninhabited hills we have tree-lined avenues in sweeping
neighbourhoods, Jewish and Moslem, and influx of millions of people who fled
oppression – be it from the Arab countries, Africa or Eastern Europe – all in
homes carrying on the traditions they brought with them, Jewish traditions.
Football Stadium, Basketball Arena, Tennis club, Hi-Tech Centre, Open
University, shopping malls, all open to all comers – this is a miracle and I
have the privilege of sitting and swinging and reflecting………… before lighting
the Shabbat Candles.

Wishing
you a Shabbat Shalom – again a sweet year, A Holy Tabernacles and Chag Succot
Sameach.

With
love from Jerusalem

Sheila

Herewith
the words to Neighbourhood Bully

Well, the neighborhood bully, he's just one man
His enemies say he's on their land
They got him outnumbered about a million to one
He got no place to escape to, no place to run
He's the neighborhood bully.

The neighborhood bully he just lives to survive
He's criticized and condemned for being alive
He's not supposed to fight back, he's supposed to have thick skin
He's supposed to lay down and die when his door is kicked in
He's the neighborhood bully.

The neighborhood bully been driven out of every land
He's wandered the earth an exiled man
Seen his family scattered, his people hounded and torn
He's always on trial for just being born
He's the neighborhood bully.

Well, he knocked out a lynch mob, he was criticized
Old women condemned him, said he should apologize
Then he destroyed a bomb factory, nobody was glad
The bombs were meant for him. He was supposed to feel bad
He's the neighborhood bully.

Well, the chances are against it, and the odds are slim
That he'll live by the rules that the world makes for him
'Cause there's a noose at his neck and a gun at his back
And a license to kill him is given out to every maniac
He's the neighborhood bully.

Well, he got no allies to really speak of
What he gets he must pay for, he don't get it out of love
He buys obsolete weapons and he won't be denied
But no one sends flesh and blood to fight by his side
He's the neighborhood bully.

Well, he's surrounded by pacifists who all want peace
They pray for it nightly that the bloodshed must cease
Now, they wouldn't hurt a fly. To hurt one they would weep
They lay and they wait for this bully to fall asleep
He's the neighborhood bully.
Every empire that's enslaved him is gone
Egypt and Rome, even the great Babylon
He's made a garden of paradise in the desert sand
In bed with nobody, under no one's command
He's the neighborhood bully.

Now his holiest books have been trampled upon
No contract that he signed was worth that what it was written on
He took the crumbs of the world and he turned it into wealth
Took sickness and disease and he turned it into health
He's the neighborhood bully.

What's anybody indebted to him for?
Nothing, they say. He just likes to cause war
Pride and prejudice and superstition indeed
They wait for this bully like a dog waits for feed
He's the neighborhood bully.

What has he done to wear so many scars?
Does he change the course of rivers? Does he pollute the moon and stars?
Neighborhood bully, standing on the hill
Running out the clock, time standing still
Neighborhood bully.

Friday, 7 October 2016

Shabbat
Shalom dear Friends – did you know that today is International Smile Day?

I am
sure that the people of the Caribbean Islands, Georgia and Florida are not
smiling as yet another storm hits. Who said that it is paradise on earth in the
Bahamas – right now it is closer to purgatory with many dead. We all have our
challenges to face but this is dreadful. Haiti is, yet again, a victim of the
worst of the Hurricane Matthew; partly because the housing is so poor
and partly because their government and unending poverty has left them
unprepared. One thing I do know is that the incredible people of IsraAid stayed
on to help rebuild and give psychological and educational aid to the people of
Haiti since the devastating earthquake. IsraAid is already on the ground. http://www.israaid.co.il/projects/haiti

This
has been a week of late news – late because it is all after the fact!
Prince Charles, as I told you, went to visit his grandmothers grave on the
Mount of Olives. It was not an official visit (indeed his attendance at the
funeral of Shimon Peres was private not official) it was respect for his
exceptional paternal grandmother, Princess Alice of Greece who is buried beside
her mother in Gethsemane, the Church and Convent of Maria Magdalena, a Holy
Christian site and nothing to do with anybody's peace process. The media
decided his visit was kept a secret, that he went over the green line………. Indeed,
after the fact the media in general is making a real mish mash out of a private
tribute. I am still delighted by his regal kippa! http://www.yadvashem.org/yv/en/righteous/stories/princess_alice.asp

If
you heard that Israel attacked Gaza this week – we did. Actually not Gaza per
se and we didn't attack but apart from that the reports are accurate. Israel
responded to 2 rocket attacks on Sderot by searching and responding to the
rocket sites. Sadly, while returning from the response Major Ohad Cohen-Nov
z"l died after ejecting from his F16 fighter jet. May his soul rest in
peace.

The
American administration is angry that there is new building in Shiloh, (Yehudah
and Shomron). What they don't tell you is that Shiloh is one of the "large
areas of Jewish habitation", is in the Binyamina region and the houses are
being built for those Jews evicted from the illegal, hilltop settlement of
Amona by Supreme Court injunction. To suggest that the so-called peace talks
are failing because of a few houses is ludicrous. It is failing because instead
of attacking the crux of the problem the USA. Europe, UN and so many other
bodies have failed to understand that one side, the one they see as
belligerent, has done everything in her power to make peace and the other, the
one they see as the victim, has not honoured any of its commitments, starting
with their school curriculum. Go to the Impact-SE website http://www.impact-se.org/ and understand that from birth Palestinian
(indeed all Arab countries) schools teach hatred of Israel and of Jews and
Christians. All the above organisations and countries need to start there.

A
group of women decided to take a small boat from the southern tip of Europe and
head for "war stricken and blockaded" Gaza. They were taken into
custody by the Israeli Coast Guard, which included predominantly women soldiers.
Trouble is that before they left they made videos saying that if the videos are
seen by the world that means they were captured by the "Occupying Israeli
Forces"! Oh come on! If these women, including a few Israelis and a Nobel
Prize winner, really cared about Human Rights, surely there are many places in
our region where the very existence of women deserves their attention? Do they recognize
that the only entry for aid and goods to Gaza come through Israel's Kerem
Shalom Crossing? Do they know that Egypt closed off Gaza entirely? No of course
not.

Rosh
Hashana is behind us and Yom Kippur before us. The ten intervening
days ) are days of introspection, atonement – Selichot ( asking forgiveness)
North African Jews perform the rite of Selichot for 40 days. It is a time to
rethink our manner and way of life – hopefully finding reason to change and the
strength to do so. The tenth day of the Hebrew month of Tishrei; 10 days after
the creation of man in the form of Adam; 10 days of repentance until the
ultimate repentance, Yom Kippur. Why? Why should we repent if we didn't do
anything bad? We are asked to repent the sins of humankind, the unintentional
sins including those when we said "Gosh did you hear about ****, they say
he did so and so" Admit it, we all do it!

If we
are talking about repeating lies which have no foundation in truth perhaps the
biggest lie, so prevalent and fashionable at the moment is that of
anti-semitism and anti-Israel cant. Perhaps it is worth listening to Rabbi
Jonathan Sacks theory as to what are the foundations of anti-semitism "The
Mutating Virus" https://youtu.be/uwN1WuDwIf0

We had
family to us for first day Rosh Hashana lunch, then a group of diverse friends
came for second day. It was wonderful, totally spontaneous and the food was
basically ready for the 14 of us. Canon Andrew White came with Hano, Ilan and
Cilla Horowitz, Leah and Yehuda Ressler, Rina and Yechiel HalOr, Dvorit and
Meishi Schreiber and Prof Gabby Barkay and Ester. The conversations ran thick
and fast because all had heard of each other but none knew each other! Andrew
gave us a short insight into life in Baghdad for the last Jews and Rina and
Cilla discovered they had a common close friend!

The
vast quantities of food consumed over the past weeks will simply increase with
a 25 hour hiatus over Yom Kippur. Since I have a vast number of guests over
Succot I need to precook otherwise it becomes just too much. Yesterday, Zvi
went to stay at his son Leors home to babysit the girls because Shiri, Leors
wife, gave him a birthday treat and they had a beautiful night in a fancy hotel
including dinner. What a great idea and it gave me time to cook!!! I made
Potato Kugel, stuffed mini veggies (with rice and herbs) which I layered into a
tall container, cooked and then when the time comes I will heat and turn out
onto a platter, layer upon layer of tiny green courgettes, baby sweet peppers
of bright red orange and yellow, onions carefully peeled off and rolled,
cabbage leaves……….. I hope the plan works out!! I baked lemon cakes and fruit
cakes and right now I have to go and make that most British-Jewish of dishes
"Fried Gefilte" Mmmm delicious!!

Some
people have already built their Succahs/Tabernacles. I wonder if someone will
complain to the UN that there is a great deal of illegal building in Israel
this week – perhaps the judgement is that the buildings must come down within
eight days of usage!!!! Succah may be a simple job, special fabric that one
wraps around poles on the balconies or it may be a more solid Succah made of
sections of light wood – one thing all have in common is the "Schach"
or roofing. In the UK we used any greenery that we could legally clip, but in
Israel the acceptable Schach is Palm
leaves, huge fronds which cover even the largest of Succahs. In the religious
communities most buildings forego their parking area for a communal succah,
rather than each home building separately, but in general those families with
children build their own.

I must
go and fry my fried gefilte fish, it really is delicious I promise. I already
collected Yosef from school, hugged the girls and drove back home over the
height of Har Shmuel – past Nebe Samuel (Samuels Tomb) past the panorama of
Jerusalems hills back home to the best view of all – the view from our veranda.
The stores are closing now, the last frantic shopping to replace the goods used
in cooking for Rosh Hashana replaced, the aromas rising from busy kitchens whch
means it is time to find some beautiful songs.

First
and foremost I want to post something from The Boss, Bruce Springsteen who has
decided that it is high time he came to perform is Israel. If Springsteen is
looking for the Human Touch – I promise he will find it here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85cNRQo1m3A

I am
still deeply moved by David D'Or singing Avinu Malkeinu at the funeral of
Shimon Peres z"l at the special request of Shimon Peres z"l. We say
this prayer on both Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur – here it is with translation https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7IMU40EjLc

If
at any time I have hurt you, though without ill intent, I beg your forgiveness
and assure you I will do better in the coming year.

With
love from Jerusalem, the most beautiful city in the world which will come to a
total halt as the Rabbis prepare to sing Kol Nidrei and nary a vehicle will
move until Ne'ilah (the closing) is ended. Nothing moves except emergency
vehicles, Israel wears white and walks, families together, talking and
conversing in a way they forget during the year as cellphones remain on bedside
tables.

Shana
Tova to everyone, whatever their origin, whatever their creed, colour or
leaning. May we all learn to respect and show tolerance to the
"other" whomsoever they may be

Sunday, 2 October 2016

Shana
Tova! We wish you a year of peace, love and fulfillment. We wish the world a
year of tolerance and forgiveness and most of all the recognition that we have
harmed others, even without ill intent, and need to be forgiven.

This
was a vital week in Israel's history. A man who made Aliya from Belarus in
1932, joined by his parents in 1934, lived on Kibbutz Geva, studied
agriculture, founded Kibbutz Alumot, fought for the nascent State, stood beside
Ben Gurion and recognized the importance of defending this incredible State of
Israel while searching for peace as the first line of defence for her people
who he loved so much. He understood that Israel had to build Dimona and when
the political, financial and defence powers of Israel said no, he ensured the
building anyway; he gave the go-ahead for the heroic rescue in Entebbe, he was
the history of Israel. Shimon Peres, President, Prime Minister, Defence
Minister, brilliant mind.

Zvi and
I went with several friends to pay homage, to walk past his coffin, lying in
State in the Knesset forecourt. As we sat on the shuttle bus at the train
station, waiting for the incoming train, we heard that people had come from as
far afield as Haifa, Tel Aviv, Ashdod, Beersheva with absolutely no idea how to
get back home, just as long as they came to pay tribute to Shimon Peres.

At 93
he was so alert and alive it is still difficult to imagine he has gone, but his
life was well lived. As a politician he was always at the forefront but never a
winner. Indeed one wonders how he continued fighting defeat after defeat – but as
President he shone.

The
funeral was televised throughout Israel and the world, although the only news
outlet that I found televising it in toto was the BBC. The speeches were
heartfelt and more than a tear or two were shed. The eulogies were beautiful,
revealing a side to Shimon Peres that we didn't know http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4861812,00.html Perhaps, indeed I am sure, the most moving
eulogy was that of Prof. Tzvia Valdan, Shimon Peres daughter, who began with
the words "Today I eulogise two men, one called President and one I called
Abba. She told of a man who would rush home to prepare his childrens food,
carefully cutting it into interesting shapes so that they would eat; she spoke
of the deep and abiding love that he felt for her Mother who called him Busjik;
she spoke about the man who loved his family above all else. She and her
brothers saw a different man.

The Israeli
Arab parliamentarians of the "Joint List", led by Ayman Odeh decided
that it was Israels funeral not theirs, and did not attend. Aymans Facebook
page was flooded with angry posts by the Israeli Arabs they are meant to
represent who said it marginalized them in a way no political decision could.

Shimon
Peres was the grandson of Rabbi Zvi Meltzer, Rabbi of the Wiszniev community.
He left his parents' home and lived with his grandfather who taught him Talmud.
When Shimon left Wiszniev, headed for Palestine, the last words his grandfather
said to him were "Remember to be a Jew". Tzvia told us that on Friday
night, at supper with the family, he was the first to don his Kippa and loudly
sing Kiddush in his deep guttural voice. Thus, when asked what music he would
choose at his funeral, Shimon Perski Peres did not choose a secular Israeli
song but rather Avinu Malkeinu, a song of Yom Kippur begging G-d's forgiveness
and protection. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JoClZF6YaRk

Sadly,
Rabbi Melzer and his entire congregation were burned to death when their
synagogue was set alight.

Perhaps
the greatest tribute came from an unlikely source. Mahmoud Abbas went against
his people, his enemies, his parliament and came to the funeral to honour a
friend. Mahmoud Abbas, came and although not mentioned in Netanyahus speech,
they stood together and shook hands – perhaps Shimon Peres dream came a little
closer?

And
so to Rosh Hashana.

The
pomegranates are ripe, the sun is lower, the air redolent with the aromas of
millions of meals, the grind of chairs being pulled into place around extended
tables to accommodate the family and friends, the tables set with white cloths
and fine crockery.

In our
rather Ashkenazi house we have the traditional tsimmes, which reminds me of my
late cousin Freda, her one cooking expedition of the year. Freda who my Daddy
returned to Poland, crossing the border from Austria dressed as a field worker,
to rescue his little niece from the streets of Brzezini. The red cabbage is
sweetly cooked like Mummy always did, the Boeuf bourguignon is hardly
appropriate but the chicken soup and kneidlach bring me back to my roots! I
don't make Gefilte Fish per se. In fact I depart from my roots entirely, I make
Chraimeh – which is kind of the Moroccan equivalent – minced fish in a spicy,
tomato-y, peppery sauce. Chicken and klops (like a large meat ball) bring me
back but the salads are totally Middle Eastern!!! Remember what I said –
Israeli salads rarely have any connection to lettuce!!!! Moroccan mushrooms; aubergines
and pepper; courgette and onion; red slaw; mejadara; with roast veggies. I
forgot what else because I can't see the back of the fridge!!!!

One
day, my children will sit at our Rosh Hashana table and sing the traditional
songs with us, but I derive great joy from Zvi's children and grandchildren who
will be here. The day will come when we can have all 5 children their spouses
and 13 grandchildren around one table to celebrate this beautiful festival. As
we sit I know that our parents and grandparents – indeed all our ancestors sit
with us around the table, proud to know that we are continuing their
traditions.

I got
up especially early so that I could write to you and still see my beautiful
daughter Rachel and her amazing family. I could not possibly go into Rosh Hashanah
without my hugs and kisses.

Each
year I ask your forgiveness. It is done with a full heart and the intention to
atone, repent try to be better. I always tell the story of the time I was a
Sunday School (Cheder) teacher and two of the girls in the class were really
not very nice to the others. I explained a very important precept of atonement
to them. "If one sins, then over the next 10 days (actually and those
preceding) you can ask forgiveness from the Almighty; however, there is one
instance that one must ask forgiveness from ones fellow man because the
Almighty considers it a sin above all others." They would look at me, very
curious as to what this deep sin could be "If you harm another, shame them
publicly or tell lies about them, you must ask for forgiveness directly from
them. If they do not accept you must ask again, and again, if after the third
time they do not grant you their forgiveness then the sin transfers to
them" Judaism is such a logical religion. Like anything, if taken to
extremes then it loses its potency and becomes about the minutae not the love
of G-d, but every rule, law and tradition has its purpose.

The
last frantic shopping is coming to an end as if there is not alrady far too
much food for any refrigerator to possibly cope with. The shops, restaurants
and malls will close, Israel will become quieter, more contemplative, and
families will gather to celebrate the Head of the Year – Rosh Hashanah.

I wish
us all a year of fulfillment, kindness, tolerance, tolerance and more
tolerance. I end with the words of my dear, dear friend Rabbi Jeremy Rosen, who,
while Headmaster of Carmel College, each morning at assembly, he would remind
the predominantly Jewish students " You are equal to but not better than
anyone else" . My children heard you Jeremy.

Shana
Tova dear friend, a Gutte Yor, Bonne Anee, Buen Ano, blwyddyn dda, and for my
beautiful great-niece Carly an easy birth so that yet another Bloom girl will
be born today!